Sinker grapple



Mardl 1956 M. R. HIBBARD ETAL 2,738,217

SINKER GRAPPLE Filed July 12. 1955 Myr/han R. Hibbard Joseph L. Riley IN V EN TOR-S 40:53:

, BY Zfivm United States Patent SINKER GRAPPLE Myrthan R. Hibbard, Portland, and Joseph L. Riley, Milwaukie, Oreg.

Application July 12, 1955, Serial No. 521,503

4 Claims. (Cl. 294-66) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in logging equipment, and more specifically to improved sinker grapples.

Logs which either have sunk to the bottom or are floating submerged beneath the surface of the water are called sinkers. Such logs quite often clog up ponds around the mills and have to be removed either by a dragging process or by draining the pond periodically. Further, the sinkers represent a substantial monetary loss if they are not reclaimed. In fact, certain log salvage companies have made it a profitable business of raising sinkers which have been lost by other companies.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to use devious methods of locating sinkers and then attempt to hook onto the sinkers by suitable raising means. While this has proved profitable in the past, an improved mechanism for locating and raising the sinkers would increase the profit of raising the sinkers.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a sinker grapple which is so constructed whereby it may be utilized for the purpose of locating a sinker and at the same time, may be utilized for the purpose of raising the sinker to the water surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sinker grapple which includes a first grapple member intended to be disposed on the end of a dragline, and a second grapple member intended to be slidably carried by the dragline for cooperation with the first grapple member, the two grapple members forming a grapple assembly for firmly grasping and raising a log.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel sinker grapple which is so constructed whereby in the event it is impossible to raise the sinker from a position embedded in mud or the like, the sinker grapple may be quickly and easily released from the sinker without loss of the grapple.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first grapple member which is the subject of this invention and shows the general details thereof;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second grapple memher and shows the general details thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view on a reduced scale showing the first grapple member and a second grapple member disposed on a dragline with the first grapple member in engagement with a sinker and the second grapple member sliding down the dragline for engagement with the sinker; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 on a reduced scale and shows the sinker grapple firmly in engagement with a sinker for the purpose of removing the same.

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Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the first grapple member which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The grapple member 10 includes a multiprong type of grapple element 12 which is provided at its upper end with a bail 14. Pivotally connected to the bail 14 is a lower half 16 of a pivotal connector 18, the pivotal connector 18 being in the form of a swivel; The pivotal connector 18 also includes an upper half 20.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a second grapple member which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 22. The second grapple member 22 includes a grapple element 24 which may be of the same construction as the grapple element 12. The grapple element 24 is provided at its upper end with a bail 26 to which there is connected by means of a clevis 28 an elongated section of chain 30. The upper end of the chain 30 is provided with a clevis 32.

The sinker grapple includes an elongated dragline or cable 34 in addition to the grapple members 10 and 22. The lower free end of the dragline 34 is provided with an eye 36 which is connected to the connector 18 by attachment to the upper half 20 thereof. The grapple member 22 is mounted on the dragline 34 by passing the dragline 34 through the clevis 32.

In the operation of the present invention, the second grapple member 22 is stored in a boat, on a barge or on the shore from which the dragging operation is being accomplished. The first grapple member 10 is dragged either through the water or along the bottom by means of the dragline 34 until such time as it engages a sinker,

such as the sinker 38. At that time, the first grapple member 10 firmly engages the sinker and it may be determined from the pull on the dragline 34.

After a sinker 38 has been engaged by the first grapple member 10 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, the second grapple member 22 is slid down the dragline 34. Due to the resistance of the water in which the sinker 38 is sunk to the downward movement of the second grapple member 22, the grapple element 24 thereof will move down to a position partially underneath the sinker 38 remote from the grapple member 10, in the position best illustrated in Figure 4. The sinker 38 is then firmly grasped by the grapple assembly,- which includes the grapple members 10 and 22, and may then be partially rolled and partially pulled from the bottom in which it is embedded. After this has been accomplished, the sinker 38 is then pulled to the surface of the water where it may be grabbed by suitable lifting tongs for the purpose of being elevated from the water.

In the event a sinker 38 is engaged by the sinker grapple and is so stuck in the mud of the bottom of the body of water that it cannot be pulled out, the sinker grapple may be salvaged by moving the "dragline 34 back and forth over the sinker 38 until such time as the second grapple member 22 is pulled out of engagement with the sinker 38. Then, further movement of the dragline 34 to the left, as viewed in Figure 4, will release the first grapple member 10.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be readily apparent that the sinker grapple may be utilized first for locating a sinker and secondly for grasping a sinker for the purpose of removing it from the bottom in which it is embedded or for engaging the same when it is floating beneath the surface of the water. Further, because of the relationship of the various parts of the present sinker grapple, it may be released from a log which may not be pulled from the bottom without loss of any parts of the sinker grapple in contradiction to the use of lifting tongs which become firmly engaged with a sinker and must be cut loose or at the worst,

Patented Mar. 13, 1956 finally pulled loose in shallow water by means of a pike pole.

With the present invention, salvaging of logs is no longer limited to shallow water. The sinker grapple has been successfully used in water as deep as 100 feet, and greater depths appear to be possible.

The sinker grapple may be dragged either by mechanical means or by hand, and may be attached to either a stationary winch assembly or some type of winch assembly mounted on a boat or barge.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sinker grapple for retrieving sunken logs and the like, said sinker grapple comprising a dragline, said dragline having a free end, a first grapple member carried by said free end, a second grapple member slidably carried by said dragline, said second grapple member cooperating with said first grapple member to form a gripping assembly.

2. A sinker grapple for retrieving sunken logs and the like, said sinker grapple comprising a dragline, said dragline having a free end, a first grapple member carried by said free end, a second grapple member slidably carried by said dragline, said second grapple member cooperating with said first grapple member to form a gripping assembly, a pivotal connector between said dragline and said first grapple member, an elongated flexible connector between said dragline and said second grapple.

3. A sinker grapple for retrieving sunken logs and the like, said sinker grapple comprising a dragline, said dragline having a free end, a first grapple member carried by said free end, a second grapple member slidably car ried by said dragline, said second grapple member cooperating with said first grapple member to form a gripping assembly, said grapple members being identical.

4. A sinker grapple for retrieving sunken logs and the like, said sinker grapple comprising a dragline, said dragline having a free end, a first grapple member carried by said free end, a second grapple member slidably carried by said first dragline, said second grapple member cooperating with said first grapple member to form a gripping assembly, a pivotal connector between said dragline and said first grapple member, an elongated flexible connector between said dragline and said second grapple, said grapple members being identical.

No references cited. 

